Mastering the Balance: Managing Grad School, Work, and Student Mental Health
Mastering the Balance: Managing Grad School, Work, and Student Mental Health
Student mental health, particularly college student mental health, is an often misunderstood public health concern that requires intervention from a variety of professionals working together to address. According to the most recent Healthy Minds Study, a comprehensive survey of student mental health conducted across 800 colleges nationwide, 41% of students screened positive for depression and 36% screened positive for anxiety for the 2022-2023 school year.
On this week’s episode of the More Than a Therapy Couch podcast, we sit down with Laura Bortnick, a graduate student studying to get her Master’s Degree in Social Work, to discuss modern-day stressors for students who are balancing school, work, mental health, and other responsibilities.
The Importance of Early Intervention in Schools
With the rates of declining student mental health, suicide, and school shootings on the rise, the importance of early intervention in combatting the student mental health crisis becomes increasingly prevalent. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports “many mental health conditions first appear in youth and young adults, with 50% of all conditions beginning by age 14 and 75% by age 24.”
Early recognition of warning signs is vital in providing students with the necessary tools to navigate mental health conditions before they become unmanageable.
Bortnick states that “growing up I was always seen as a really shy kid, and I think differentiating when a kid is a shy kid and when a kid is extremely anxious is really important.”
As we continue to learn more about how mental health conditions present in children, teens, and young adults, it is important that this information is shared with parents, teachers, and other educational professionals who interact with students daily. By spreading awareness, we can work collaboratively to connect students with available resources before conditions progress further.
Balancing Multiple Roles
For those who are transitioning from high school to college, the jarring difference in routine highlights the need for increased time management skills, independent planning, and stress management techniques. While all individuals face a variety of stressors on a daily basis, college students face several stressors for the first, or only time, in their lives during this specific life transition. Included in these stressors is the responsibility to balance several aspects of their lives independently.
Being a full-time student is stressful in its own right, but many students are also navigating working alongside their studies all while trying to form meaningful relationships with their peers.
Bortnick shares that she navigates multiple roles by focusing on “having that balance of not bringing my work home with me and having that self care of when I’m at work this is what’s happening and when I’m at home it still happened but I am working on separating it from my personal life.”
Bortnick’s story offers valuable insight into the realities of being a student today and what strategies they are utilizing to maintain their mental health and well-being. By working alongside young adults and understanding their needs, mental health professionals can work to bridge the generational gap in providing resources that are more accessible to students amidst their busy schedules.
Increasing Access to Student Mental Health Resources
The Healthy Minds Study reveals that of the individuals that screened positive for depression or anxiety, only 46% sought some sort of mental health counseling/therapy. There are a myriad of factors as to why one might not access mental health services including geographic limitations, financial concerns, social stigma, time and availability.
However, the gap between the need for mental health resources in higher education and the utilization of those services indicates there is still room for growth in mental health education on resources and what is available to support students.
When talking about her own mental health break from school, Bortnick shares “at the time it felt like the end of the world, it truly did. But if I didn’t get that help I wouldn’t have come back a stronger person for the next semester. If you’re not addressing the problem it does not magically go away.”
Creating environments where we can foster meaningful conversations about mental health in higher education can help us work to discover where more intervention is necessary to support our students.
When should I see a professional ?
If you or a loved one are concerned about a student’s mental health, it is important to be proactive in reaching out for support. A licensed mental health professional can work one-on-one with students and parents to evaluate the root cause of symptoms and develop a customized approach to cope with the transition back to school.
By recognizing the signs of declining student mental health, fostering open communication, and establishing a supportive routine, you can help your student navigate the challenges of a new school year with confidence and resilience.
To listen to the full episode of More Than a Therapy Couch, visit https://www.youtube.com/@TreeofLifeCC or find us on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Pandora.
About Tree of Life Counseling Center
At Tree of Life Counseling Center in Princeton, NJ and Freehold, NJ, we have an experienced team of 50+ clinicians to help support you, and your family, through whatever you may be facing. Schedule an appointment today by calling 732-393-8391 or filling out an online form at https://www.treeoflifecc.org/start-today.
